My understanding was that a portion of the money went to the NWR which 
made the sale, so I always try to get mine at Blackwater....

Karen Caruso
Riva, Md

Carol McCollough wrote:

>As an active stamp collector and birder I have found it increasingly difficult to 
>purchase my duck stamps at smaller post offices (like where I live).  This is 
>because the USPS now restricts these units to a certain dollar value of stamps 
>in their inventory.  At $15 a pop, it's difficult for the small POs to justify 
>holding them in inventory instead of postage.  These folks are also evaluated 
>on how much stuff they sell, and what they mainly sell is postage.
>
>I buy my duck stamps (yes, multiple, one for every vehicle and a clean copy of 
>both types for my collection) every year from Blackwater NWR and the US 
>Postal Service Providence Rhode Island Philatelic Center.  
>www.usps.com/provdist/phcontact.htm   
>
>Providence has both the self-adhesive and water-activated stamps (the ones 
>you CAN'T get anywhere else except maybe Union Station) and do not charge 
>a handling fee like the main USPS site does.  They accept credit cards, 
>although you will want to telephone the first time you order because they 
>accept orders only by e-mail, no secure server.  They will then keep your card 
>on file.  You can also buy regular postage stamps there, and they stock all the 
>cool commemorative stamps that you often will not be offered at your local 
>post office.  (Check out the Florida Wetlands souvenir sheet with stamp 
>picturing  white ibis, snail kite, sharp-tailed sparrow, bald eagle, flamingo, and 
>2 others that I don't recall right now).  No pictures though.
>
>Happy birding -
>Carol McCollough
>St. Michaels and Marion Station
>phalarope AT dmv DOT com
>  
>